Oscillatory device for photographic processing

ABSTRACT

A device for oscillating a horizontally disposed carrier about a fulcrum centrally located on its longitudinal axis, the carrier having spaced circumferential cams. A frame locates the carrier on a horizontal rod which is rotated reciprocally by a semicircular cam on a flat disc which sequentially engages a pair of cam rollers on the rod as the disc is rotated unidirectionally.

United States Patent Taylor May 29, 1973 OSCILLATORY DEVICE FOR [56] References Cited PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSING UNITED STATES PATENTS [751 lnvenm 9" Gwrge Taylm" 1,414,197 4/1922 Maddox ..259/72 Omar, Canada 2,516,655 7/1950 Smith ..259/75 Assignee; Monrick 3,091,435 Pease Downsview Ontario Canada 3,3 1 Daugherty [22] Filed: 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins [211 App. No: 227,973 Attorney- Lew1s E. Hanley and Robert L. Westell [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A device for oscillating a horizontally disposed carrier Dec. 8, 1911 Canada ..1296l2 about a fulmlm centrally located on its longitudinal axis, the carrier having spaced circumferential cams. [52] U.S. Cl. ..259/72, 259/75, 95/93 A frame locates the carrier on a horizontal rod which [51] Int. Cl. .Q ..B0lf 9/00 is rotated reciprocally by a semicircular cam on a flat [58] Field of Search ..259/72, 75, 81, 54, di hi h sequentially engages a pair of cam rollers on the rod as the disc is rotated unidirectionally.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented May 29, 1973 v 3,735,961

OSCILLATORY DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPI-IIC PROCESSING The present invention relates to a device for oscillating a carrier for the processing of photographic sheet or roll material.

A device presently on the market for processing photographic material in sheet or roll form consists of a cylindrical carrier having spaced cams located circumferentially on the outside of the carrier cylinder, or on its end caps, for oscillating the carrier about a fulcrum point located in its longitudinal axis when the carrier is rotated reciprocally. Such a device is described in copending US. application Ser. No. 848,042 filed Aug. 6, 1969 in the name of Simon Ratowsky assignor to Monrick Holdings Limited, now US. Pat. No. 3,668,997.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for reciprocably rotating an oscillatory carrier, using means rotating continuously in one direction.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, in association with a photographic sheet material carrier;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the rotatable plate of the device of FIG. 1 in engagement with the reciprocable rod of the device;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the carrier shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carrier drum shown in FIG. 1, illustrating photographic sheet material positioned therein.

The device of the example embodiment consists of a frame having a base 12 housing a motor 14 and a pair of parallel spaced upright plates 16 each having an upwardly opening U-shaped recess 18. A drive shaft 20 projects from motor 14 vertically through base 12 of frame 10 with a circular, horizontally disposed disc 22 fixed to the upper end of the shaft. Disc 22 carries a flat shoulder or cam 24 fixed on its upper surface, forming a semicircular arc'adjacent the outer edge of the plate.

A horizontally disposed rod 26 is located above disc 22 in the plane of drive shaft 20, being freely supported in an aperture 28 in the base portion 30 of each'upright plate 16. A pair of cam rollers 32a and 32b are fixed on rod 26 above disc 22 and between plate 16, spaced apart to engage cam 24 when the disc is rotated. A further pair of cam rollers 34a and 34b are fixed to the ends of rod 26 projecting through apertures 28 beyond plates 16. p

In the operation of the device a carrier 40 is used, comprising a cylindrical drum 42 with a pair of end caps 44 each having a circumferentially disposed convolute cam '46 terminating in an abrupt shoulder 48, and one of the end caps having an opening 50 for introducing processing liquids. When end caps 44 are placed on drum 42 (for example by press fitting), cams 46 are in opposed relationship with shoulders 48 overlapping as seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings. After photographic sheet material has been positioned in drum 42 of carrier 40, as shown for example in FIG. 4 of the drawings, and the drum has been closed by end caps 44 as seen in FIG. 3, the carrier is placed on the device to have the end cams bearing against rollers 34 with the drum loosely cradled in recesses 18 of plates 16 as seen in FIG. 1.

After processing liquid is introduced into drum 42 motor 14 is actuated to rotate disc 22, bringing shoulder cam 24 into contact sequentially with each cam roller 32 and causing rod 26 to rotate reciprocally. Thus when cam 24 rotates in the direction of arrow 52 and engages one roller 32a as seen in FIG. 1, rod 26 rotates in the direction of arrow 54; and when cam 24 engages the other roller 32b as seen in FIG. 2, rod 26 rotates in the direction of arrow 56, Le. in the opposite direction to that of arrow 54. The reciprocal rotation of rod 26 causes carrier 40 to rotate reciprocally also, and the engagement of convolute cams 46 on end caps 44 causes the carrier to oscillate in a substantially vertical plane about a fulcrum 58 centrally located on the longitudinal axis 60 of the carrier. As seen in FIG. 1,

the limits of rotation of carrier 40 in each direction' about axis 60 are governed by shoulders 48 of cams 46 laterally abutting cam rollers 34. Thus when that end of carrier 40 resting on roller 34 is at the lowest point of its oscillatory cycle with shoulder 48 abutting the roller, the other end of the carrier resting on roller 34b is at the highest point of its oscillatory cycle with the deepest portion of cam 46 (adjacent shoulder 48) resting on the roller.

The speed of rotation of drive shaft 20, the radius of curvature of rollers 32, and the diameter of cam rollers 34 will govern the speed of reciprocal rotation of the carrier and ensure that rod 26 reverses its rotation substantially at the time one or the other shoulder 48 comes into contact with roller 34a or 34b, with any overriding being accommodated by slippage between rollers 34 and end caps 44. The diameter of rollers 34 also must be large enough to clear tube 42 of carrier 40 from contact with the plates 16.

I claim:

1. A device for reciprocally rotating a cylindrical carrier having a pair of spaced, circumscribing cams thereon for oscillation of the carrier about a fulcrum point centrally located on the longitudinal axisthereof, comprising:

a frame;

a horizontally disposed rod having a pair of spaced cam rollers fixed thereon;

rotatable means located below the rod and having a horizontally disposed planer surface in spaced relation with the cam rollers, a semicircular cam shoulder on said surface adapted on the turning of said rotatable means to engage each of the cam roller sequentially; 1

means on the frame to cradle the carrier loosely for free engagement of each of the circumscribing cams with the rod; and

means to turn the rotatable means unidirectionally whereby the rod rotates reciprocally.

2..A device as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of further rollers one adjacent each end of the rod for engag ement by the circumscribing cams of the carrier.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the cradle means comprises a pair of spaced, vertical plates each having a U-shaped recess therein. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rotatable means comprises a disc fixed on the free end of a vertical drive shaft connected with the turning means; the axis of the horizontal rod and the vertical drive shaft intersecting one with the other.

5. A device for reciprocally rotating a cylindrical carrier having a pair of circumscribing cams thereon for oscillation of the carrier about a fulcrum point centrally located on the longitudinal axis thereof, compris- 51 frame having a base and a pair of vertical, spaced parallel plates;

a horizontal disposed freely rotatable rod intersecting the plates and a pair of spaced cam rollers fixed on the rod between the plates;

a rotatable disc horizontally disposed below the rod in spaced relation therewith, the disc carrying a semicircular cam shoulder adjacent the periphery thereof adapted on the turning of the disc to engage each of the cam rollers sequentially;

a further pair of spaced rollers fixed one adjacent each end of the rod projecting from the plates,

each plate having a U-shaped recess to accommodate the carrier for free engagement of the circumscribing cams with the further pair of rollers; and

5 means in the base of the frame for turning the disc unidirectionally whereby the rod is rotated reciprocally.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for turning the disc comprises a motor having a vertical drive shaft, the disc being fixed to the upper,free end of the drive shaft, the axes of the horizontal rod and the vertical drive shaft intersecting one with the other. 

1. A device for reciprocally rotating a cylindrical carrier having a pair of spaced, circumscribing cams thereon for oscillation of the carrier about a fulcrum point centrally located on the longitudinal axis thereof, comprising: a frame; a horizontally disposed rod having a pair of spaced cam rollers fixed thereon; rotatable means located below the rod and having a horizontally disposed planer surface in spaced relation with the cam rollers, a semicircular cam shoulder on said surface adapted on the turning of said rotatable means to engage each of the cam rollers sequentially; means on the frame to cradle the carrier loosely for free engagement of each of the circumscribing cams with the rod; and means to turn the rotatable means unidirectionally whereby the rod rotates reciprocally.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a pair of further rollers one adjacent each end of the rod for engagement by the circumscribing cams of the carrier.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the cradle means comprises a pair of spaced, vertical plates each having a U-shaped recess therein.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the rotatable means comprises a disc fixed on the free end of a vertical drive shaft connected with the turning means; the axis of the horizontal rod and the vertical drive shaft intersecting one with the other.
 5. A device for reciprocally rotating a cylindrical carrier having a pair of circumscribing cams thereon for oscillation of the carrier about a fulcrum point centrally located on the longitudinal axis thereof, comprising: a frame having a base and a pair of vertical, spaced parallel plates; a horizontal disposed freely rotatable rod intersecting the plates and a pair of spaced cam rollers fixed on the rod between the plates; a rotatable disc horizontally disposed below the rod in spaced relation therewith, the disc carrying a semicircular cam shoulder adjacent thE periphery thereof adapted on the turning of the disc to engage each of the cam rollers sequentially; a further pair of spaced rollers fixed one adjacent each end of the rod projecting from the plates, each plate having a U-shaped recess to accommodate the carrier for free engagement of the circumscribing cams with the further pair of rollers; and means in the base of the frame for turning the disc unidirectionally whereby the rod is rotated reciprocally.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for turning the disc comprises a motor having a vertical drive shaft, the disc being fixed to the upper, free end of the drive shaft, the axes of the horizontal rod and the vertical drive shaft intersecting one with the other. 